Two of the biggest favourites in Women’s Singles at the World Championships, Chinese Li Xuerui and Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand, were both victorious in their first game.
The defeat in the Women’s Singles final at last year’s World Championships on homeground in Guangzhou was quite a disappointment for China. In the final, their home favorite Li Xuerui lost to young Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand.
At this year’s tournament in Ballerup both players waited for the second day for their first matches. And they both seemed very sharp from first stroke. First the Olympic Champion and first seeded Li Xuerui defeated Kristina Gavnholt from Czech Republic; 21-14, 21-17.
Chinese Li Xuerui seemed relaxed and in control in her victory. Moments later she watched her superior from the 2013-final follow her through to next round.
Only 19 years old, Ratchanok Intanon has already made quite a name for herself in the group of top women players in international badminton. The preparations for the reigning world champion have been marred by a illness period.
In the Thai Ratchanok Intanon’s first match at the championships in Ballerup, the prelude appeared in glimpses. Still, the former triple junior world champion managed to defeat her Spanish opponent Beatriz Corrales with the score 21-18, 21-10.
In the next round a fellow countryman waits for Chinese Li Xuerui in the shape of Han Li. The future opponent for Ratchanok Intanon is either going to be Danish Line Kjærsfeldt or Minatsu Mitani from Japan.